Acquaintance Rape: The Influence of Alcohol, Fraternity Membership, and Sports Team Membership

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the extent of sexual victimization among undergraduate women at a large midwestern university with specific attention to alcohol use, fraternity membership, and sports team membership. Data were collected via a mail survey from a randomly selected sample of undergraduate women (n = 925). In addition to several dichotomous questions, subjects were asked to describe the most sexually stressful event they had experienced since enrolling at the university. In reference to the described incident, the subjects were asked: a) whether or not alcohol use occurred; b) if the man was a member of a fraternity; and c) if the man was a member of a sports team or sports club. Results indicated that sexual violence still occurs on campuses at an alarming rate. Additionally, it was found that alcohol use was associated with sexual violence and that fraternity members and members of sports teams were overrepresented among the accused.